No relief in sight as heatwave continues to sear south Europe

Temperatures in south Spain soar to 46 degrees, a new record for June

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Spain and Portugal reported record temperatures yesterday as Italy and France braced for several more days of a punishing heatwave that has gripped southern Europe and Britain, sparking health and wildfire warnings.

The summer's first major heatwave has seen authorities in countries along the Mediterranean's northern coast urging people to seek shelter and protect the vulnerable.

"This is unprecedented," Agnes Pannier-Runacher, France's ecology transition minister said as a record 84 of the nation's 96 mainland departments were placed on the second-highest "orange" heat alert.